CNA Classes in Dallas

Dallas is a Texas city that spans the counties of Denton, Collin, Rockwall, and Kaufman. The population is nearing 1.5 million people, which makes it the ninth most populated city in the United States and third in the state of Texas. Approximately 10 percent of the population is aged 65 and over, which means there are currently around 120,000 people that need or will need care. This presents a great number of opportunities for people in the area wishing to become certified nursing assistants. Because Dallas is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metro area, there are over 75 hospitals in the area. In addition, there are dozens of nursing homes and Hospice centers that are in need of CNAs. This demand has resulted in there being a number of state-approved CNA training programs in education and health care facilities in Dallas and around the metro area that get people into the field quickly.

To become a CNA in Dallas, you must ensure that the chosen training program is state-approved. Such a program will ensure all of the required topics are covered in order to prepare you for the state certification exam. The instructor will be a licensed nurse in Texas with at least one year of experience in the field. To enroll, you will most likely have to meet the training program’s requirements. Common requirements include being at least 18 years of age, having a high school diploma or GED and proving that all vaccinations have been received. Tuberculosis testing might also be required, as well as a background check.

The class will be no less than 100 hours. Sixty hours are spent in the classroom and 40 hours are spent doing clinical training in a patient care environment. Before any direct resident care can be given, 16 of the classroom hours are spent introducing the student to the field. Classroom training must be completed before any direct patient contact can occur.

It can take approximately four to six weeks to complete a program. The length of the program depends on the school or facility and how many classes it takes to complete the 100 hours. The typical skills that are learned include basic patient care like bathing, feeding, communicating, reporting, taking vitals and patient transport.

With so many job opportunities available in Dallas due to the demand for CNAs, it usually doesn’t take long for a newly certified nurse’s assistant to find employment. The average salary is approximately $28,000 annually. How much a CNA is paid depends on the place of employment and the exact duties.

Duties can range from simply helping patients with day-to-day self-care to making meals, transport, aiding in communication, logging urine output and fluid intake, and keeping the patient’s environment clean. Nursing assistants are commonly employed by hospitals, nursing homes, home health centers, hospice centers and medical offices. It is not just the senior population that needs care. People of all ages with disabilities and chronic or acute illnesses need care as well.

Once you find employment as a CNA, how you are going to get to and from work is something to consider. While many people drive their own automobiles on the many interstate highways and streets, others rely on public transportation. Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) provides buses and rail transport. This is the seventh-busiest light rail system in the United States with over 70 miles of light rail and 55 stations. DART also provides HOV lanes for commuters to help them get to and from work faster.

Dallas is also one of the few cities in the U.S. operating trolley lines. This provides one more transportation option for CNAs looking for efficient and safe ways to move around the city. Of course, walking and biking are also options, but biking can become somewhat of a challenge at busy intersections. Walking can be a good and healthy way to go to work if you live close to your destination.

Lastly, there are cab services that serve the city and its surrounding areas. If you prefer public transportation, this is another viable option. However, it might require more time to get to your destination due to cabs picking up and dropping off additional passengers.

But before you can consider how you are going to get to and from work, you have to decide on a training program. Mountain View College offers a state-approved CNA program that gives you the skills you need to pass the certification exam and be good at what you do.

To enroll, you must be at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or GED. You must also pass a background check because the State of Texas doesn’t award occupational licenses to people with criminal histories. Nonetheless, you will be required to take the Certified Nurse Aide Training I and II courses. The first course is your classroom hours at a cost of approximately $500. The second course covers the 40 clinical hours and comes at a cost of $120. A third course can be taken to receive CPR certification and costs less than $100. These costs don’t include uniforms or classroom materials.

The classroom schedule is Monday-Thursday for 3 hours per day and the clinical portion is Monday-Friday for 8 hours per day. It only takes 20 days to complete the classroom portion and five days to complete clinicals. The material covered prepares students to work in clinics, hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities. The curriculum is determined by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services.

If you want to obtain your education for free, there are several options. Because of the low cost of most CNA programs, it might be difficult to obtain a grant. However, you might want to check with your employer for programs that pay for education. You can also look into scholarship opportunities. Companies like Johnson & Johnson offer scholarships entering into nursing. If you can’t find a scholarship opportunity that fits your needs, you can ask the school where you choose to train for information on ways you can pay for your education for very little money or none at all. Class advisers and financial aid offices tend to have a wealth of information on ways to reduce or eliminate the financial burden an education imposes on students.